The Japanese did not treat the people very well during their occupation. They tried to kill all anti-Japanese people. There was a large amount of inflation because the Japanese printed paper money for Singapore to use.

In 1941, due to the weak defenses of the country, the Japanese attacked Singapore. They took control of the colony on 15 February1942 and renamed it Syonan-to (pronounced as Sho-nan-to), meaning Light of the South, during the rule. Many people suffered during this time till the British got back Singapore in September 1945.